Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS.
REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)
SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S)
U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5012
SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT NUMBER(S)
DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENTApproved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
ABSTRACTThe purpose of this project is to develop a new process for identifying breast cancer. This process should be at least as convenient as mammography for the patient, more sensitive for detection of even the smallest and earliest tumors, and more accurate in distinguishing tumors from normal tissue. First, the tumor site is marked by entrapment of a PEG-conjugate, due to the EPR effect. Based on the longer retention of the PEG-conjugate marker in tumor versus normal tissue, a second conjugate is administered. This second conjugate will chemoselectively interact with the first conjugate to form insoluble microgels only in tumors. Alternating cycles of the 2 conjugates should result in increasingly larger microgels. These microgels can then be used as targets to deliver another chemoselective reagent for detection (imaging) or for therapy. In this first year of the grant, we have developed procedures for synthesizing the various gelforming conjugates needed for these studies. We have also established a syngeneic mouse model assay and have carried out pilot vivo experiments.